Howe, Grizzlies stymie Capitals

Victoria Grizzlies rookie netminder Joe Howe didn’t have time to worry about his dad and uncle watching from the stands at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan after they made the trek west from Barrie, Ont.

He was too busy making save after save to help his team down the Island Division-leading Cowichan Valley Capitals for the second straight game, this time by a 4-0 score as Howe picked up his first B.C. Hockey League shutout.

Three days after beating the Capitals in overtime at The Q Centre, the Grizzlies hit the road and rode the hot goaltending of the 18-year-old Howe and goals from Bryce Anderson, call-up Kahlil Fontana, Cody Monds and Eddie Yan, into an empty net, to improve to 6-9-0 on the season. The Caps fall to 10-5-2.

Howe entered the game with a goals-against average of 3.98 but easily came up with his best performance of the season, stopping all 45 shots he faced. Ben Howard made 28 saves in the Cowichan net.

The Grizzlies were again without injured captain Marty Westhaver so head coach Craig Didmon called up Fontana from the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

The Grizzlies now return home for back-to-back games, taking on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs tonight at The Q Centre, and hosting the Wenatchee Wild on Sunday afternoon.

LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies were also without injured players Brady MacDonald and Andrew Amousse. . . . The Canadian Junior A Hockey League announced Friday that the Penticton Vees will host the 2021 Centennial Cup national championship tournament. The event will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre.